It is no doubt that South Africa has among the best constitutions in the world. This constitution was embodied in a true spirit of Ubuntu which is a guide to our approach to our how we relate among others with other states.
Recently the government of Uganda, under the leadership of President Yoweri Museveni signed an anti-homosexual bill into law. This law imposes harsh penalties for homosexuality.
This is clearly a step backward in dealing with harsh realities of human rights abuse. Africa is still trying to get its footing in processes of development and does not need these kind of laws to move forward. This bill is nothing but a clear violation of human rights and Museveni should not be left alone. He needs to be condemned with all strongest possible terms.
While respecting Uganda’s sovereignty, the United Nation needs to step in to deal with this crisis. If it means imposing sanctions, that should be done to teach that government a lesson. The biggest problem here is that this law was passed without proper consultation through public participation with the people of Uganda. Many Ugandans are opposed to this law (though there are some who agree to it) and the government seems not to care about this. His argument that “no study has shown that you can be homosexual by nature” is fallacious.
Africa is known for its high levels of civil wars and genocides, and this law runs a danger of escalating these problems. The fact that people are urged to denounce homosexuality including reporting it to the police could lead to false accusations and counter-accusations that are founded on hatred among individuals. People could be falsely accused to serve particular agenda that has got nothing to do with one’s sexual orientation or preference.
The reality here is that one’s sexual orientation is a private matter. No individual or government should be allowed to punish people based on their sexual orientation or preference. The fact that Uganda is not the only country to have outlawed homosexuality could not be used as an argument at all. The point is, this law is nothing but a step backward in building a better Africa and a better world.
I read how many gay activists in Uganda expressed their shock and fear because of this law. Some rendered themselves under house arrest fearing for their lives. Is this how Museveni wants his people to live?
How are these people going to assist in building that country if they are even scared to get out of their own homes? Ugandan government should have taken all these factors into consideration before even thinking of passing this controversial law.
On December 10, 1948 at the Palais de Chaillot, Paris, the United Nation General Assembly adopted the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR). As the signatory of the United Nation, the Ugandan government should not be allowed to pass laws that are themselves a crime to humanity and in this case this law could be viewed as such.
The United Nations and the African Union should be speak out against this law. South Africa as one of the leading countries in Africa, should not be mum on this matter. We have bitter experiences of human rights violation and Museveni should be called to order.
Building a better Africa and a better world requires abolishing backward laws such as this one.
